DNR?hosts Keweenaw ORV?trail meeting

March 30, 2012

LANSING?- The Department of Natural Resources will host an informational meeting on April 17 regarding the proposed designation of the Keweenaw ORV trail in Keweenaw County as a state off-road vehicle trail.

The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Houghton Township Community Building, located at 5059 4th St., Eagle River.

The Keweenaw ORV trail would connect the state-designated Houghton-Calumet ORV Route to Copper Harbor by utilizing landowner permits to operate on private land. Due to special conditions requested by the private landowners on 54 miles of trail, designation of the trail as an official state ORV trail is contingent on a Land Use Order of the Director permitting those special conditions. Special conditions requested by the private landowners would prohibit the operation of certain types of ORVs and establish a seasonal period of operation.

Designation as a state ORV trail would allow both the Keweenaw County Sheriff's Department to apply for state ORV program law enforcement grants, and the Keweenaw ATV Club to apply for trail maintenance funding.

"We are hosting this meeting to answer any questions and take public comment on the proposed special conditions necessary to accommodate the landowners who are otherwise supportive of this ORV trail," said Rob Katona, DNR ORV trails analyst. "DNR Director Rodney Stokes will consider this public input when deciding whether to grant the Land Use Order."